Multiple comb and blade hair trimming device



Jan. 19, 1965 D. A. CARROLL 3,155,831

MULTIPLE COME AND BLADE HAIR TEIMMING DEVICE Filed March 4, 1963 I? ZQQ'UZ Ja United States Patent Office iiii Patented clari. 19, 1955 3,165,831 MUL'IELE CMB AND BLADE BAER TREE/ENG DEVHIE Dorothy A. Carrol, 3l@ W. Kenneth Road, Glendaie, Calif. Filed Mar. 4, 1953, Ser. No. 262,637 3 Claims. (Ci. Sti-3i?) This invention relates to the art of cutting hair and more particularly to a novel hair cutting implement embodying assemblies of one or more razor blades and comb means detachably and interchangeably mountable in a handle. j

The principal object of the invention is to provide a hair cutting implement comprising a plurality of comb elements interengageable in side-by-side relation and having means for removably mounting one or more razor blades there etween to form an interengaging assembly which issdetachably mountable as a unit in a handle means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair cutting means vcomprising a handle component having resilient comb engaging means in which a hair cutting assembly comprising a pair of comb components disposed in interlocking, separable side-by-side relation with-a razor blade mountedbetween them is insertable and removable as a unit from the handle means and in which inherent resilience of the handle means serves both to secure the hair cutting assembly in the handle means and to clamp the razor blade between the two components thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hair cutting means comprising a handle component having resilient comb engaging means in which a hair cutting assembly comprising a group of three comb components disposed in side-by-side relation withv a pair of razor blades mounted between adjacent ones of said comb components is insertable and removable as a unit from the ,handle means and in which the resilience of the handle means serves both to Vsecure the hair cutting assembly in the handle and to clamp the razor blades between the three comb components.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hair cutting comb and razor blade combination in which the comb component comprises teeth of different lengths arranged in side-by-side groups and in which the said groups are spaced from each other a distance greater than the spacing between the teeth comprising each group.

A still'further object of the invention is to provide a hair cutting comb and razor blade means in which the comb and blade components are removable and replaceable in a handle means whereby comb and blade assemblies including comb components of varying coarseness or arrangement of teeth may be interchangeable in a single handle means. f

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such additional objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts, and in thereonstruction, combination and arrangement of parts described, by way of example, in the following specification of certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form apart of said specication and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the entire device i comprising the handle and the comb and blade components assembled for use constituting a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view as viewed from the left hand end of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the comb and blade assembly shown in FIG. 1 removed from the handle component of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, having reference to FIG. l, of the blade and comb assembly receiving portion of the handle means,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged scale bottom plan view of the assembled handle means and comb and blade component shown in the .preceding gures, a portion of the handle being omitted to permit the said enlarged scale'illustration,

FIG. 6 `is a side elevational view of the razor blade contacting face of one of the outer `comb components or" the comb and blade assembly shown in the preceding figures,

FIG. 7 is a sideV elevational view of the center or blade carrying comb component of the comb and blade assembly shown in the preceding iigures together with a razor blade mounted thereon,

FlG. 8 is an enlargedtransversesectional View taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG'. 8i

but showing a modified form of comb and blade assembly in which the blades, instead of beingparallel to each other are disposed at an acute angle diverging from each other toward the teeth of the comb components,

FIG. 10 is a side-elevational view with a portion broken away of another embodiment of comb and blade assembly comprising a pair of comb components `embracing a single razor blade between them and also-showing e different arrangement of the groups of teeth yin the comb components,

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10, and

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary side elevation View of another modied embodiment generally corresponding to the right hand end of FIG. l0 but showing certain of the comb component teeth altered in the provision of bulbous terminal ends thereon.

Referring first to FIGS. 198, 'the iirst embodiment of- Disposed between these comb components are a pair of Y double edge razor blades 5, 5 disposed one each on each side of the center component 4 and positioned .thereon by ribs 6, 6 projecting through Vthe central slots 7, 7 o'f the blades and entering complementary grooves S, 3 in the adjacent surfaces of the outer comb components 3, 3, the upper portions ot the blades being housed in shallow recesses 9, 9 in the faces of the outer components which lie against the center component, it being noted that by this arrangement the razor blades can be positioned first with one edge exposed for use and then reversed to present Y the other edge.

The handle component 1 comprises a rat tail hand grip portion l@ usable to separate strands or bunches of` hair as such handles are customarily used. The larger l' In theqirst embodiment, the outer comb components.

each have a heavy end tooth 15 at each end thereof and Agroups of teeth comprising a longer tooth 16 and a shorter tooth 17 with the adjacent teeth of adjacent groups spaced apart a distance greater than lthe Width of the groups.

The center comb component is provided with heavy end teeth 15 at each end thereof and with groups of teeth comprising alternately arranged longer and shorter teeth 18 and 19 which are positioned to be opposite the spaces between the groups of teeth in the outer comb components as can best be seen upon reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The shorter teeth 17 and 19 extend a short distance, preferably slightly less than Ms below the exposed edge of the razor blade 5 and the longer teeth extend preferably slightly more than about lz" beyond the shorter teeth. The comb components and blades are assembled as a unit, the engagement between the rib 6 of the center component and the grooves 8 of the outer components serving to hold them in alignment and the assembled unit is snapped into place in the `recess 12 in the handle, it being noted that the backsof the comb components are shaped to conform to the bottom of the recess 12.

The device is used with the hair wet and the above described arrangement of teeth has been found to produce the most satisfactory generalresults in spreading out the tress being combed and cut since the strands are spread out by the teeth so that only a few of thehairs are cut at each pass of the device some being cut by each exposed blade edge. The use of similar outer comb components makes it possible for the user to work at either side of the head of the person having the hair cut without changing position. Moreover, it is as readily used* in this manner by right handed or left handed persons. The lamount of cutting V'done at each stroke will depend somewhat on the angle at which'the device is held relative to the hair and this is a matter determined by the style desired bythe user. The essential fact is that this particular arrangement of blades and teeth make it virtually impossible for even an amateur to chop off bunches of hair resulting in hardto manage hair or unsightly appearance of the person whose hair is thus lbeing cut.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the said first embodiment in that the sides of the center component 4 converge toward the back of the assembly and the complementary sides ofthe outer comb components 3', 3 extend at corresponding angles whereby the exposed edges of the blades 5, 5 are disposed slightly further from the teeth of the center comb component. By this means more of the hair passing through the comb can be brought into contact with the blade and cut thereby resulting in faster completion of a haircut or trim but requiring greater skill on the part of the user. Since all other portions of this modification are unchanged, they have been given the samey numbers as in the preceding figures and the description thereof need not be repeated.

Next referring to FIGS. 10 and 1l, there is shown a modification in which only two comb components, 2t) and 21, embrace a single razor blade 5 to form an assembly 23 which may be interchangeably inserted in the handle component 1. The combcomponent is provided with a rib portion 2l which engages the central slot 7 in the razor blade and enters a mating groove 25 in the component 21 which also has a shallow blade receiving recess 26 formed therein corresponding to the recess 9 in the first described embodiment. The back edges of the comb components are curvedto fit the handle recess 12 and the outer faces thereof are provided with grooves 27 and 28 for engagement with the ribs 13, 13 of the handle component.

In this embodiment of the invention in addition to the heavy end teeth 29, the .teeth are somewhat coarser and are formed in groups comprising one Vlonger tooth 3thV and a shorter tooth 31 with the groups being separated by a space 32 equal to the space of one tooth plus the `width of two of the spacesbetween adjacent teeth of each group and since there are only two comb components, they are arranged in the same manner. Preferably, also, the ends of the teeth are disposed beyond the exposed edge .of the razorblade to about the same extents as in the previously described embodiments. This general arrangement of teeth and spaces is not to be deemed to be limited to single blade assemblies but can be employed with assemblies comprising three comb components embracing a pair of blades.

FIG. 12 shows still another modification in which the longer teeth terminate in bulbous ends 33 which tend to hold a few strands of hair down across the edge of the blade to a slightly greater extent than those strands which are not in contact with the said bulbous ends and are between the said longer teeth. Bulbous ended comb teeth are known in the comb making art and this modification is shown simply to illustrate the point that the use of the invention is not confined to the conventional straight sided, pointed teeth in the comb components but may be used with comb components having teeeth of any desired configuration.

Thus there has been provided a hair cutting implement comprising a comb and razor blade assembly detachably mountable in a handle and so designed that the double edge razor blades may be used with the blades being changeable in position to use first one edge and then the other and in which a `single handle means may be used with a plurality of different comb and blade assemblies having different arrangements of teeth and with teeth of varying degrees of fineness and coarseness. Moreover, the various parts are all simple in design and lend themselvesreadily to economical manufacture and moreover, are'readily maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. Further, an operator may be provided with a single handle component and with a plurality of comb and blade assembliesso that for each customer a clean comb and blade assembly may be used.

While in the foregoing specification there has been disclosed certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention, such disclosure has been by way of example, whereforeit'will be understood that the invention is not to be deemed to be limited to the precise details of construction thus disclosed and that the invention includes as well all such changes and modifications in the parts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

l.v A hair trimming device comprising a handle component having an elongated, comb assembly receiving socket defined by spaced, parallel resilient side walls, and a comb assembly component removably inserted in said socket and clamped therein by the resilience of saidside walls; at least one of said side walls and the adjacent side of at least one of said comb assembly components including resiliently displaceable interlocking means operative to hold said comb assembly component against unintended movement longitudinally of said socket; said comb assembly component comprising -a plurality of toothed comb elements arranged in side by side relation with the backs thereof disposed in said socket and the teeth thereof projecting in parallel relation beyond said pocket and at least one razor blade clamped between the adjacent faces of two of said comb elementbacks with a cutting edge thereof disposed between the edge of the comb back portions from which the teeth project and a plane containing the ends of at least certain of the comb teeth; the teeth of each of said comb elements being arranged in groups with spaces between adjacent groups which are greater than the spaces between the teeth` comprising one of said groups.

2. A hair trimming device comprising a handle component having an elongated, comb assembly receiving socket defined by spaced, parallel, resilient side walls, and a comb assembly removably inserted in said socket and clamped therein by the resilience of said side walls; said comb assembly component including a central comb element and a pair of comb elements arranged one each at each side of said central comb element with the backs ol' all of saidcomb elements disposed in said socket and the teeth thereof projecting in parallel relation beyond said socket, a pair of razor blades disposed one at each side of said central comb element and clamped there against by the adjacent one of the said pair of comb elements by pressure exerted on said assembly by said resilient side walls of said socket, interlocking means between said central comb element and each of said pair of comb elements serving simultaneously to position said razor blades with one cutting edge of each of said blades disposed between the edge of the comb back portions from which the teeth project and a plane containing the ends of at least certain of the comb teeth and to afford interlocking engagement between said central comb element and said pair of comb elements against movement relative to one another; the teeth of at least some of said comb elements being arranged in groups with spaces between adjacent groups on each comb element of greater width than the spaces between adjacent teeth in each group and in which the groups of teeth on said center comb element are disposed opposite the spaces on the others of said comb elements.

3. A hair trimming device as claimed in claim 2 in which said comb elements include interengaging portions operative both to hold lsaid comb elements in a nonparallel relation to one another transversely of said razor blades and to hold said razor blades with the cutting edges thereof disposed between the base and ends of the teeth of said comb elements diverging in the direction of the ends of the comb teeth.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 159,994 9/50 Lee s 30-30 X 854,840 5/07 Prescott 30-53 1,405,759 2/22 Coleman 30-53 X 1,608,581 11/26 Caruso 30-30 1,920,711 8/33 Pelizzola s. 307-50 1,923,439 8/33 Hukill 30 50 2,488,436 11/49 Santoro 30--30 2,505,493 4/50 Herrmann 30-50 2,589,230 3/52 Davis et al 30-30 2,726,441 12/55 Brody 30-30 3,029,509 4/ 62 Peters 30-30 FOREIGN PATENTS l 38,262 7/ 34 Austria.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.V

MYRON C. KRUSE, Examiner. 

1. A HAIR TRIMMING DEVICE COMPRISING A HANDLE COMPONENT HAVING AN ELONGATED, COMB ASSEMBLY RECEIVING SOCKET DEFINED BY SPACED, PARALLEL RESILIENT SIDE WALLS, AND A COMB ASSEMBLY COMPONENT REMOVABLY INSERTED IN SAID SOCKET AND CLAMPED THEREIN BY THE RERSILIENT OF SAID SIDE WALLS; AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND THE ADJACENT SIDE OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID COMB ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS INCLUDING RESILIENTLY DISPLACEABLE INTERLOCKING MEANS OPERATIVE TO HOLD SAID COMB ASSEMBLY COMPONENT AGAINST UNINTENDED MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SOCKET; SAID COMB ASSEMBLY COMPONENT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF TOOTHED COMB ELEMENTS ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION WITH THE BACKS THEREOF DISPOSED IN SAID SOCKET AND THE TEETH THEREOF PROJECTING IN PARALLEL RELATION BEYOND SAID POCKET AND AT LEAST ONE RAZOR BLADE CLAMPED BETWEEN THE ADJACENT FACES OF TWO OF SAID COMB ELEMENT BACKS WITH A CUTTING EDGE THEREOF DISPOSED BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE COMB BACK PORTIONS FROM WHICH THE TEETH PROJECT AND A PLANE CONTAINING THE ENDS OF AT LEAST CERTAIN OF THE COMB TEETH; THE TEETH OF EACH OF JSAID COMB ELEMENTS BEING ARRANGED IN GROUPS WITH SPACES BETWEEN ADJACENT GROUPS WHICH ARE GREATER THAN THE SPACES BETWEEN THE TEETH COMPRISING ONE OF SAID GROUPS. 